Case Study: Educational Service Center Region 13 achieves expanded access to distance learning for rural schools with Lifesize

Educational Service Center Region 13 - Customer Case Study

Educational Service Center Region 13, which supports 60 school districts across 17 Texas counties, needed an affordable way to extend distance learning into rural classrooms that lacked broadband and couldn’t afford dedicated video-conferencing gear. With many districts unable to participate fully in the statewide Texas Educational Telecommunications Network (TETN), Region 13 sought a solution that would broaden access without large capital outlays.

Mirial’s ClearSea, deployed by integrator Visionality, provided a standards‑compliant, turn‑key solution that turns existing PCs, Macs and smartphones into H.323/SIP video endpoints over limited networks and 3G/4G. After a trial in November 2010 and full deployment in January 2011, multiple elementary classrooms gained access within weeks, administrators began joining real‑time meetings from mobile devices, new program requests increased, and the region is planning to expand use to more classrooms and high schools while reducing travel and equipment costs.

Educational Service Center Region 13

Carol Teitelman

Coordinator Distance Learning Programs, Region 13